Northwestern State senior linebacker Pat Black was named as an All-Louisiana College second teamer after making 113 tackles and leading the Demons’ “Purple Swarm” defense. Photo by Gary Hardamon/Northwestern State.

Northwestern State senior offensive lineman Warren Jones and senior linebacker Pat Black earned second-team honors on the All-Louisiana College Football Team for 2013 selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and announced in time for Christmas.

Black and Jones helped the Demons win three of their final four games for a 6-6 finish, NSU's best mark since 2008.

Jones was All-Southland Conference second team and was invited to the FCS Senior Scout Bowl, but declined so he could participate in commencement exercises last weekend.

He began 2013 as NSU's starting center, but moved to guard four games into the season and his performance did not dip while the offensive line peaked.

Jones graded 80 percent or better in eight of 12 games, topped by a 90 percent grade at Nicholls.

NSU's Purple Swarm defense ranked second in the explosive Southland Conference, with an average 389-yard yield as Southland offenses averaged 454 yards per game overall. Black was also a second-team All-Southland selection.

Southeastern Louisiana quarterback Bryan Bennett, who led his team to the FCS quarterfinals, earned two of the top All-Louisiana honors.

Bennett earned both Offensive Player of the Year in Louisiana along with the Newcomer award for first-year in Louisiana non-freshman players.

His coach, Ron Roberts, was also named the Coach of the Year for the Lions 2013 performance.

Defensive back Lorenzo Doss of Tulane, who participated in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, was named the Defensive Player of the Year, while Louisiana-Lafayette running back Elijah McGuire, of three-time New Orleans bowl winner Louisiana- Lafayette, took Freshman of the Year honors.

The team was selected based on original nominations from the media relations personnel at the football playing schools in the state of Louisiana. A committee of LSWA members voted for both first and second team selections.

Media members could vote for anyone on the ballot while sports information voters could not vote for their own players and had to complete a ballot for their players to be eligible under LSWA rules.

Bennett, the SLC Player of the Year, in his first season with the Lions led Southeastern to the conference championship and to a second-round win in the FCS playoffs.

Bennett completed 190 passes for 2,896 yards and 20 touchdowns, completing 61.7 percent of passes. Bennett could also run the football, rushing 171 times for just over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. He finished in the top 10 in the voting for the Walter Payton Award.

On the defensive side, Doss at his cornerback position posted 32 total tackles with seven interceptions and nine pass breakups.

The second team Walter Camp All-American ranked second nationally in interceptions while sitting third in pass breakups.

Two of his seven interceptions were returned for touchdowns. He was also selected first team All-Conference-USA with 23 of his 32 total tackles solo efforts.

In earning freshman honors both in Louisiana and the Sun Belt, McGuire ranked fifth nationally among freshman, rushing 92 times for 818 yards and seven touchdowns while leading the nation with an 8.9 rushing average.

He was the first player in Louisiana-Lafayette history to rush for 100 yards and catch passes for 100 yards in the same game (at Georgia State, 125 passing, 107 rushing).

Coach Roberts led his team to 10 wins and a 7-0 Southland Conference record and adds Louisiana Coach of the Year honors to SLC, AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year honors.

In just his second season in Hammond, Roberts led the Lions to it's first-ever SLC title and first-ever FCS playoff berth. He was also a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award and the Liberty Mutual FCS Coach of the Year honor.

Postings are not edited and are the responsibility of the author. You agree not to post comments that are abusive, threatening or obscene. Postings may be removed at the discretion of Natchitoches Times.